Machine for cutting and conveying sugar-cane.



PATENTED'MAY 21, 1907.

I H. e. GINAGA.

MAGHINEFOR CUTTING AND CONVEYING SUGAR (JANE APPLICATION FILED IAN-26,1905 RENEWED APR. 18, 1907.

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No. 854,208. PATENTBD MAY 21, 41907.

H. G. GINAOA.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND CONVEYING-SUGAR CANE. APPLICATION FILED sumac, 1905. RENE ED APR. 18, 1907.

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PATENTBD MAY 21, 1 907.

H; G- GINAGA. MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND CONVEYING-SUGAR CANE.

APPLICATION FILE-113111.26. 1905. RENEWED APR. 18, 1907.

5 SHEETS BEEET 3.

No. 854,208. 4 PATBNTED MAY 21, 1907.

-' H. G. GINAGA.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND CONVEYING SUGAROANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAILZB, 1905. RENEWED APR; 18, 1907.

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MN 4 r v I 9 I Q xv I PATBNTED MAY 21, 1907.

H. G. GINAGA. I MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND CONVEYING SUGAR CANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAILZB, i905. RENEWED APR. 18, 18 07.

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111: NORRIS PETERS cm. WASHINGTON. o. c

UNITED srnrns gn rnnr OFFICE.

HENRY GABRIEL GIN ACA, OF HONOLULU, TERRITORY OF HAWAII, ASSIGN OR, BYDIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF TWO-FIFTHS TO ABRAHAM GARTENBERG,

HAWAII.

OF HONOLULU, TERRITORY OF Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed January 26, 1905. Renewed April 18,1907. Serial No.368,922.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY GABRIEL GIN- ACA, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Honolulu, Island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, haveinvented a new and useful Machine for Cutting and Conveying Sugar-Cane,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for cut ting and conveyingsugar-cane; and has for its object to provide a machine of this kindwhich shall be suitable for use in connection with my system ofharvesting sugar-cane, for which I filed application for Letters-Patentof the United States, December 15th 1904, Serial No. 237,010, and amachine of this kind which in simplicity, durability and efficiencyshall possess superior advantages.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the construction andarrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described andclaimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 represents a plan view of a machine constructed in accordancewith my invention Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3, anelevation and part section of the left side of the machine on the lineGH of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, an elevation of the right side Fig. 5, a sectionalelevation on a larger scale of a portion of the machine just back of theside-plate shown in Fig. 3 Fig. 6, a top plan view of the portion of themachine detailed in.

Fig. 5, one-half having the cover-plate removed, and one-half being asection on the line CD of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a sectional elevation of theportion on the line AB of Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a transverse sectionalelevation of a portion on the line E-F of Fig. 5 Fig. 9, a sideelevation of the conveying apron; and Fig. 10, a plan view of amodification of crotch in forked end of base-plate.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the machine as a wholeis adapted to be pulled or hauled in the field forward or back ward ineither direction, sliding upon the ground over the roots and stubble ofthe cut cane, in the manner as described in the above mentioned.application, Serial No. 237,010. The base 1 is made of a rectangularsteel plate with its forward end out out as shown. Attached to andextending longitudinally on each side of the base-plate 1 are thevertical side-plates 2 and 3, preferably placed a short distance in fromthe longitudinal edges of the base-plate 1, as shown in Fig. 1. Theforward ends of the side-plates 2 and 3 are tapered and end in theprongs 5 and 6'below the level of the baseplate 1, and the forward endsof the base-plate 1 are bent upward slightly, best shown in Figs. 3 and4.

Secured to the base-plate 1 midway between the side-pl ates 2 and 3 isthe casting 7, its forward portion covering the crotch 4 of the fork inthe base-plate 1. The coverplate 8, preferably made detachable, isattached to the front end of the casting 7 and the sideplates 2 and 8,and slopes upward and rearward from the base-plate 1 to the top of theside-plates 2 and 3, where it is bent over rearward and is continuedwitha downward and rearward slope to the rear of the machine. Thecover-plate 8 may have a portion of it hinged as shown in Fig. 5. Ifdesired, triangularly tapered pieces of wood or other suitable materialmay be filled in the spaces over the forked ends of the baseplate 1,inside of the forward ends of the sideplates 2 and 3. The rear end ofthe baseplate 1 is curved upward, and the vertical end-plate 9 inclosesthespace between the side-plates 2 and 3 and the base-plate 1 and thecover-plate 8. Attached to the sideplates 2 and 3 are the handles 10 and11 respectively. The guide-plate -12, suitably secured to the rightside-plate 2, curves over toward the left side-plate 3 as it rises fromthe base-plate 1, best shown in Fig. 2. The guide-plate 12 is cut sothat its forward edge tapers upward and rearward starting from back ofthe prong 5, best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The tapering edge of theguide-plate 12 may either be rounded or rolled or curled upward.

For operating the several devices hereinafter described, I provide themotor 14, se cured upon the base-plate 1, within the cas ing formed bythe cover, end and side-plates as above described. The shaft 18 ismounted transversely of the center line of the machine and is journaledin the boxes 19 and 20 attached to the base-platel. The shaft of themotor 14 is suitably geared to the shaft 18, by worm, spiral or bevelgearing. In the drawings the spiral-pinion 16 is shown keyed to theshaft 15 and meshing with the spiral-gear 17 keyed to the shaft 18. Oneach end of the shaft 18 is a disk with crankpins, 21 and 22respectively, set to line with each other. A flywheel 13 may be keyed tothe motor-shaft 15.

The main cutting-knife 23 operates either within or just below thecrotch 4 of the fork in the base-plate 1. The piece 24 is adapted toslide forward and backward in the casting 7, and the detachable knife 23is secured underneath the forward end of the piece 24; A reciprocatingmotion of the piece 24, and its attached knife 23, might be effected ina well known manner by means of a pitman on either side of the piece 24,connecting its pins 26 and 27 with the crank-pins 21 and 22 respectivelyof the shaft 18 operated by the motor 14. But as such an arrangementdoes not give a suitable motion to the cuttingknife to produce the bestresults, I employ the following mechanism.

The pitmen 28 and 29 are slotted at their ends engaging the pins 26 and27 of the piece 24, their other ends fitting over the crankpins 21 and22 respectively. Spring-pressed catches 30 and 31, pivoted to thecasting 7 at 32 and 33 respectively, engage and hold the piece 24 whenpulled to its rearward position. Adjustable trips for releasing thecatches 30 and 31 are formed by means of the screws 36, 37 withlock-nuts in the lugs 34 and 35 onthe tops of the slotted ends of thepitmen 28 and 29 respectively. The forward travel of the piece 24 islimited by its rib 25 striking against a rubber bumper 38 in the frontend of the casting 7 and is cushioned thereby. Between the rib 25 andthe rear of the casting 7 is interposed a spiral spring 39, a screwbeing used to adjust its tension. It will be noted that the pull on thepins 26 27, projecting from the sides of the piece'24 through openingsin the casting 7, by the pitmen 28 29 is a square and even pull, andthat the piece 24 when pulled backward, sliding in the cast ing 7,compresses the spring 39. When pulled to its rear position, the catches30 31 engage and hold the piece 24. The shaft 18 continuing to revolve,the slotted ends of the pitmen 28 29 slide forward on the pins 26 27until the screws 36 37 in the lugs 34 35 engage and trip the catches 3031, thereby allowing the spring 39 to force the piece 24 and itsattached knife 23 rapidly forward, the pins 26 27 sliding in the slottedends of the pi tmen 28 29. These operations are repeated at eachrevolution of the shaft 18. It will be noted, Fig. 6, that thecutting-edge of the knife 23 when in its rear position is back of andunder the lip 67 or forward edge of the casting 7, so that when thepiece 24 is released an accelerated motion is imparted to the knifebefore its cutting-edge comes in contact with any cane. The knife 23 inmoving forward beyond the lip 67 cuts any cane in its path within thecrotch 4, its edge being at an angle such that a shearing cut iseffected, shown in Fig. 6. The lip 67 is preferably made at the sameangle as that of the knife 23, and it may be made of a separate ieceinstead of a part of the casting 7, if so esired. The travel of theknife 23 is slightly downward in moving forward, best shown in Figs. 5and 7. If the knife 23 meets no resistance in its path the impact istaken up by the rib 25 of the piece 24 striking the rubber bumper 38. Anair cushion or dash-pot may be employed in place of the rubber bumper38.

In addition to the above described cutting mechan sm, I em loy aside-cutting device, its stationary knife 41 either being attached to orforming a part of the right side-plate 2 at its highest point, andprojecting horizontally forward and vertically over said side-plate. Itsmovable knife 42 is pivoted outside of the side-plate 2 and moves in aplane parallel thereto about its pivot 43 passing through a suitablebearing in said side-plate. The knife 42 derives its motion by means ofa pitman 45 connecting the crank-pin 21 of the shaft 18, operated by themotor 14, with the crank 44 attached to the pivot 43 inside of thesidelate 2. In Fig. 4 I have shown a shape of nife to effect a shearingcut, but I do not wish to confine myself to such shape.

A lifting-plate 46 is pivoted to swing in a plane parallel to andoutside of the side-plate 3, its pivot 47 passing through a suitablebearing in the side-plate 3 to receive a crank 48 on the inside of saidplate. A pitman 49 connects the crank 48 with the crank-pin 22 of theshaft 18, operated by the motor 14, thereby producing an oscillatingmotion of the lifting-plate 46.

If desired, the pitman 45 may connect the crank 44 of theside-cuttingknife 42 with an eccentric on a countershaft suitably geared to theshaft 18 so as to run at a relatively slower speed than the main cuttingmechanism. Likewise, the pitman 49 may connect the crank 48 with asimilar eccentric on the other end of such a countershaft, whereby themotion of the lifting-plate 46 will remain the same but its speed willbe relatively reduced.

To provide for the conveying of the cut cane, the apron 50 is detachablyhinged to the side-plate 3 at 52 and 53, and is supported upon its shoe51 by suitable bracing 54, best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 9. For the sakeof lightness, the apron 50 may be a wire netting or screen or be ofcanvas on a suitable frame. The apron 50 curves upward at its rear, andlaps slightly over a similar curved apron 55 attached to the rear of themachine.

The side-apron 56 is attached to the curvedapron 55 and is in the samevertical plane as IIS' the side-plate 2, its top tapering from the rearof the side-cutting stationary knife 41 to the top of the apron 55. Thecurved apron 55 and the side-apron 56 are carried up high enough toprotect the guiding operator.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The machine beingconstructed as above described, the hauling-forward cables are suitablyattached, as at 57 to the sideplate 3 and at 58 to the bracing of theconveying apron, the hauling-backward cable is suitably attached, as forexample, at 59 to the end-plate 9, and the electrically insulatedflexible cable is attached at 60, and its wires connected to the switch61 of the motor 14, best shown in Fig. 3. The machine is then pulledforward in the manner described in my application above mentioned,Serial No. 237,010, so that one row of cane will come between the prongs5 and 6, the machine being guided by the operator by means of thehandles 10 and 11, the prongs 5 and 6 being run low enough in the groundto insure their running under and lifting any cane stalks that may beslightly embedded in the ground. As the machine advances, the stalksinclined to either side of the row are lifted by the side-plates, theguide-plate 12 lifting that on the right-hand side of the row andforcing it gradually over toward the left side of the machine.

some cases, such as when heavy stiff cane is to be cut, the guide-plate12 is omitted, and the stalks inclined to either side of the row areonly lifted by the prongs 5 and 6 and the side-plates 2 and 3. Forfields where the cane is grown in wide rows, I make the crotch 4 in thebase-plate 1 wider, and use a correspondingly wider knife, or two ormore similar knives operated in a similar manner, as indicated in Fig.10. The liftingplate 46 automatically raises the cut cane resting on theside-plate 3 and which are forced upward upon it by the forward motionof the machine, and are raised by the liftingplate 46 sufliciently sothat they slide down upon the apron 50, the oscillating motion of thelifting-plate 46 being produced by the pitman 49 connecting the crank 48with the crank-pin 22 of the shaft 18, operated by the motor 14 in themanner above described. The side-cutting device clears away any stalksthat project over the path of the machine from adjacent rows on theright hand side of the machine, such stalks being lifted by thesideplate 2, as the machine advances,-

until they meet the knife 41 and are sheared by the movable-knife 42.Upon arrival at the end of the row, the cane on the apron 50 is removed,and the machine is pulled backward by the cable attached at 59 and themachine is then. moved over to begin on the neXt row.

The knife 23 cuts any cane in its path within the crotch 4. In

While I have described and illustrated the machine as right-handed, itis obvious that it could as well be made left-handed, if so desired.

I desire it understood that I do not limit myself either as to thedetails as shown or to the materials as specified, and that any changesin the construction or arrangement of the parts of the machine, whichcould be made by any skilled mechanic whereby the same results may beobtained, are included within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, the combination ofa base plate acting as a shoe to support the machine and slide upon theground, a cutting device, a motor for operating the cutting device, acasing on the base plate inclosing the motor, and operating connectionsbetween the motor and cutting device.

2. In a machine for cutting and carrying.

sugar cane, the combination of a base plate acting as a shoe to supportthe machine and slide upon the ground, a cutting device mounted on thebase plate, a motor for operating the cutting device, means forattaching cables to the machine for hauling it in either direction, andoperating connections between the motor and the cutting device.

3. In a machine for cutting and carryingv sugar cane, the casting 7provided with the lip or edge 67 at its forward end, the piece 24adapted to slide forward and backward in said casting, a pitman pivotedto said piece 24, a motor connected to said pitman, and a knife 23attached to said piece 24 and adapted to move under said lip.

4. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, the combinationwith the baseplate 1, having a fork with a crotch 4, of a lip 67 in saidcrotch, and a longitudinally reciprocating knife 23 operating below saidlip, the cutting edge of said knife when at its rearward position beingrearward of the said li 5. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugarcane, a base-plate forked at its forward end and adapted to slide uponthe ground, a cutting-knife operating below the crotch of said fork, anda motor carried by said plate and connected to said knife.

6. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, a base-plate forkedat its forward end, and a cutting-knife moving in a plane inclinedslightly forward and downward to the plane of the base-plate.

7. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, a knife, thecasting 7, the piece 24 adapted to slide forward. and backward in thecasting 7 and connected to said knife, pitmen connected to said piece 24for drawing said piece to its rear position, and means for holding saidpiece in its'rear position.

8. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, a knife, thecasting 7, the piece 24 adapted to slide forward and backward in thecasting 7 and connected to said knife, means for drawing said piece toits rear position, means for holding said piece in such position, andmeans for releasing said piece when so held.

9. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, a knife, thecasting 7, the piece 24 adapted to slide forward and backward in thecasting 7 and connected to said knife, means for drawing said piece toits rear position, means for holding said piece in such position, meansfor releasing said piece when so held, and means for adjusting the timeof such release.

10. In amachine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, a knife, thecasting 7, the piece 24 adapted to slide forward and backward in thecasting 7 and connected to said knife, means for drawing said piece toits rear position, means for holding said piece in such position, meansfor releasing said piece when so held, and means for accelerating themotion of said piece forward when released.

11. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, a knife, thecasting 7, the piece 24 adapted to slide forward and backward in thecasting 7 and connected to said knife, means for drawing said piece toits rear position, means for holding said piece in such position, meansfor releasing said piece when so held, means for accelerating the motionof said piece forward when released, and means for adjusting the forceof such acceleration.

12. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, a forkedbase-plate 1, side-plates 2 and 3, and a cutting device located at theupper portion of one of the said side-plates and at the edge of themachine.

13. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, a forkedbase-plate 1, a motor 14 thereon, side-plates 2 and 3, a stationaryknife 41 at the upper edge of one of said sideplates, and a movableknife 42 pivoted to the same side-plate and deriving its motion from themotor 14, said knives coacting to shear any stalks introduced betweenthem.

14. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, the combinationwith a base plate 1, of the side plates 2 and 3, and cutting meansmoving in a vertical plane located at the upper portion of one of thesaid side plates.

' 15. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, a base plate,side plates extending vertically therefrom, a side cutting devicemounted upon one of said side plates; a lifting-plate pivoted to theside-plate opposite. the side-cutting device, and a motor connected tosaid lifting plate.

16. In a cutting machine of the kind described, a base plate 1, the sideplate 3 eX- tending vertically therefrom, a lifting-plate 46, the pivot47 in the side-plate 3, the crank 48 attached to said pivot inside ofsaid plate, the shaft 18, the motor 14 connected thereto, the crank pin22 of the shaft 18 and the pitman 49 connecting the crank with the crankpin 22.

17. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, a motor 14, ashaft 18 operated thereby, the casting 7, the piece 24 slidable in saidcasting, pins 26 and 27 extending from the piece 24, a disk upon eachend of the shaft 18, crank pins 21 and 22 mounted respectively upon saiddisks, pitmen 28 and 29 each having a slot at one end, the slots in saidpitmen receiving the pins 26 and 27 respectively, the other ends of saidpitmen being respectively connected to the crank pins 21 and 22, aspring 39 interposed between said casting 7 and said knife piece 24, aknife 23 attached to said piece 24,

spring pressed catches 30 and 31 pivoted to the casting 7, andadjustable strips 36 and 37 carried by the pitmen 28 and 29respectively.

18. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar-cane, a base plate, aside plate vertically extending therefrom, an apron detachably hinged tosaid side-plate at its upper edge, and a shoe supporting said apron atits outer end.

19. In a machine for cutting and carrying sugar cane, a base plate, aside plate extending vertically therefrom, an apron 5O hinged to theside plate near its top, the shoe 51 supporting the outer end of saidapron, bracing 54 connecting the apron with the shoe, and means forattaching a hauling cable to said shoe.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY GABRIEL GINACA.

Witnesses:

ROBT'. J. PRATT, D. A. Fox.

